A Sculpture Of An Italian Right-Wing Politician Shooting African Migrants Goes On Display In Naples

The politician Matteo Salvini made Italian ports off limits to rescue ships helping stranded migrants making the dangerous journey to Europe from North Africa.

Christopher CoxNovember 26, 2019

A sculpture depicting Italian right-wing politician Matteo Salvini shooting two African migrants has received heavy criticism by the politician. The piece, titled La pacchia è finita! (the free ride is over), is by the Italian artist Salvatore Scuotto. The work is part of a show titled Virginem=Partena held Naples at the Nabi Interior Design gallery, which was organised by Biancamaria Santangelo.

In a Twitter video, Salvini, the leader of the far-right League party, said: “This piece that shows me shooting two immigrants, if this is a work of art, it doesn’t make me laugh. Why the fuck would it make me laugh?…

However the artist, Scuotto, told an Italian newspaper, “When I started to create, Salvini was still Minister of the Interior. I wanted to represent him as a big boy who plays a video game populated by ghosts, as you can see from the details of the gun that is intentionally disproportionate. I say his political message is childish, like a constant Play station where you have to identify the enemy and bring him down “.

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